A new season is upon us! And with football comes TCR's weekly Big Ten Power Rankings, amongst other exciting content we'll be releasing prior to the Murray State game (5 days away!). While Lovie Smith has been our favorite offseason topic, the rest of the conference didn't stay quiet by any means.
Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines made headlines seemingly every week, and new coaches DJ Durkin (Maryland) and Chris Ash (Rutgers) settled in and started recruiting their heads off. A notable absentee from the offseason banter was Ohio State, however they've reloaded yet again and are poised to make another run at a Big Ten title.
But enough talk! Here's how our staff ranked the 14 teams ahead of Week 1.
Week 1 Big Ten Football Power Rankings
1![]() Ohio State Buckeyes
|
Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
2 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1.38 |
2

Michigan Wolverines
Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
1 | 3 | - | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1.75 |
3

Michigan State Spartans
Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
3 | 2 | - | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.88 |
4

Iowa Hawkeyes
Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
4 | 4 | - | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4.38 |
5

Wisconsin Badgers
Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
5 | 5 | - | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 5.38 |
6

Northwestern Wildcats
Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
6 | 8 | - | 7 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | - | 6.38 |
7

Penn State Nittany Lions
Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
8 | 7 | - | 8 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 7.13 |
8

Nebraska Cornhuskers
Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
7 | 6 | - | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 7.25 |
9

Indiana Hoosiers
Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
9 | 9 | - | 9 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 9.50 |
10

Illinois Fighting Illini
Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
11 | 11 | - | 11 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9.75 |
T-11

Maryland Terrapins
Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
12 | 13 | - | 12 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 11.25 |
T-11

Minnesota Golden Gophers
Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
10 | 10 | - | 10 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11.25 |
13

Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
13 | 12 | - | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12.88 |
14

Purdue Boilermakers
Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
14 | 14 | - | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13.88 |